Grand-piano construction



B. c. EDMANDS.

' GRAND PIANO CONSTRUCTION.

I I 1 0- 1 40 1 1 1 5 I Patented Dec. 20, 1921.

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I GRAND PIANO CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED 001.21.1920.

I ,40 1 1 1 5 Patented Dec. .20, 1921.

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GRAND PIANO CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION 'HLED OCT. 21. 1920.

1,401,;1 15, Patented Dec. 20, 192 1.

3 SHEETS-SHEET '3.

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awn/mug UNITED- STATES PATENT: OFFICE.

BRADFORD o. EDMANDS, or Nnw'ren, nassncnnsn'rrs, Assrenon 'ro AMERICANPIANO COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY.

GRAN D-IPIAN CONSTRUCTION.

To aZZ'w/wm it'm-ay concern.

Be it known that LBRAnroRD G. EDMANDS, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Newton, in the county of 'Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts have invented an Improvement in Grand-Piano Construction,

of which the following is a specification.

pianos.

: The present invention relates to grand pianos and has for an object toprovide an improved grand piano construction and an lmproved method ofassembling grand For many years grand pianos have been constructed by amethod'of manufacture which has involved fitting and securing theskeleton frame and case rim together and subsequently fitting thesounding-board and musical instrumentalities into place within the rim.This method involves carefully fitq and finish the case rim separatelytherefrom and thereafter apply it to the previously tingthesounding-board into the rim and against the skeleton frame while the rimis in position making the work difficult and expensive. In connectionwith the fitting of the sounding-board, the skeleton frame must beprovided with recesses to receive the ends 'of the sounding-board ribs.This requires skillful, painstaking workmanship.

It has been proposed, heretofore to assemble theskeleton frame,sounding-board and musical instrumentalities and to make assembledparts. While this method has resulted in a considerable saving in themanufacture of grand pianos, nevertheless it has certain disadvantagesinthat the skeleton frame and caserim must still be carefully fittedtogether. Furthermore, this method Ordinarily involves the use of ashop-form for each rimto retain the rim. win shape during relativelylong period while it is being operated. upon in the process ..the'manufacture 0f the skeleton frame,. sounding-board and musicalinstrumentali-- of manufacture andfinishing.

' The present invention provides a method of miniufacture and assemblywhich permits ties' 'as one unit and the: manufacture of the case rim asa separate unit and in such form that thetwo units may be easilyassembled "without exact trimming and fitting of either foundamong-ordinary cabinet makers; The

part and without requiring labor having a igher degree of skill. thanthatv usually Specification of Letters Iatent.

with the strings and the action.

skeleton frame is a strong and rigid structure commonly forming apermanent part of the case in pianos of the type to which this inventionrelates. It holds the case rim in.

pianos are manufactured for sale in distant markets considerable expensein transportation can'be saved 1f the frame assembly and action can bemanufactured at av central plant where highly skilled piano operativesare available and these parts shipped to a distributing center where thecase can be applied and the piano finished by'available labor' havingreasonable skill in cabinet work. i a

The present invention makes feasible the manufacture and assembling ofthe more important elements of the piano at one factory and shipment toa'distributing center for completion and finishing. This is accom- Vplished by providing an improved construction and method of assemblingespecially designed to facilitate the application of the rim to theframe assembly without requiring special tools andjigs or a high qualityof workmanship; I i

The invention will be "best understood from a specific description of anillustrative structure and a preferred method ofassembling suchstructure.

'In carrying out the method of manufacture which will be particularlydescribed the sounding-board, iron'frame and strings are preferablyassembled 'on the skeleton frame or rast and then the rim is appliedthereto and secured firmly to theJskeleton frame. Theskeleton' frame ispreferably made enough smaller-than the rimto make allowance' for minorirregularities in the shape of either therim or frame. The rim isstiffened by. a reinforcing rib or member extending preferablycontinuously along the interior thereofxand flush with the lower.

edge. A'rigid connection is made between the skeleton frame and rim atspaced points by introducingwedges between the skeleton frame and rimwhich wedges areglued to both parts and screws are preferably put,

7 Patented Dec. 20, 1921. Application filed October 21, 1920. Serial No.418,530.

through theframe and wedges into the rim to secure the wedges in placeand the skeleton frame and rim in suitably spaced relation, The framepreferably isjalso glued and screwed to the reinforcing rib' of the rim.Thereafter. .the action, pedals, fall board, cover and other parts areassembled v with the piano in the usuatmanner'.

i of a grand piano showing areinforcing rib 151 7 frame adapted to andskeleton frame support extending along the lower edge and the ;key-bedsecured.

thereto. 7 p v p 7 Fig.2 is a perspective view of a skeleton Fig. 1; 7 c7 V .Fig. 31s a central sectional VlGWOf the skeleton frame withasounding-board, 1ron frame and strings assembled thereon.

Fi 4: is a similar sectional. complete piano.-

view of the skeleton frame and flrim in assembled relation.

Fig. 6 is a; on the line 66 of Fig. 5. V p g. 7 is a detail sectionalView taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5. V f it Fig. Sis a perspective Viewof one of the .wedges 20, the taper beingshown as exaggerated for thesake of clearne'ss',

In the constructionillustrated the rim and skeleton frame are madeseparately and afterward assembled. The rim member 1 comprises the rimproper 2 (Fig. 1) with the rib 3 extending around the interior thereofpreferably adjacent the'lower' edge,

- the key-bed'l and the frontbar 4 which" are secured to therim tobracethe' ends and hold-them in properspaced relation; This rim membermay be finishedcomplete and polished before any other parts are assembled therewith. The reinforcing rib 31per forms two functions.It'stifiens the rim while it is being operated upon and in the:finishe'dj pianojit provides a1 support and convenient point ofattachment for the skeleton frame when the-same is assembled with therim.

The skeleton frame 5 (Fig. 2) ism'ade separately and is of usualconstruction eX-' cept that the outer circumferential frame m'emberinwthe construction] illustrated is narrower thanusual by an amountequalto the vertical'depth of theskeleton framesup-- por'ting' rib so thatthe top is'at the usual -'=l'evel"with respect to the rim; The centralbar 7 *and; the bottom "belly bar 8Qof the skel'eton frame "arefalso'madenarrower, at

' least'attheirlends where they join the cir-f I. f 'cumferenti'alframe;member, so as 'to fit over therib 3 when assembled with therim asI indicated at '10 in Figs. 2 and Elandatll' in Fig. 6. The diagonalbrace'12 issimilarly cut away at its outer end to fit over thereafterthe skeleton frame with these associated parts is set into the rim." Theskeleton frame is glued and screwed tothe stiffening rib 3 whichnowserves'as a supportzfor the skeleton frame. The screws, or thestiffening rib with the connecting screws and glue constitute asupporting and securing means for holding the skeleton frame and rim insuitable preferably spaced relation. 1

The [skeleton frame is' preferably made smaller than theinterior of the.rim, as above noted, .in order to allow for variation 7 or inaccuracyinthe shapes of the skeleton F 1g. 5 1s a plan view showing. only theframe and rim to avoid diiiicult trimming of 'the skeleton frame at theb11116 of as y Psembling..- Preferably additional securing detailsectional view takenf.

means are .providedmoresecurely to hold the skeleton frame and rim indefinite spaced relation. As shown, spacing-wedges :20" are introducedbetween the skeleton frame and rim at suitable intervals along theiradjacent peripheries and WOOdeSCftEWS 21 are introduced; through theskeleton frame and wedges into the rim to secure;

the frame and rim firmly in. fixed relation It is to be understood thatthe particular method and construction described are merely illustrativeof the invention as vari-.

ations Willi be obvious to those skilled in theart; v 5 5i:

"I'cl'aim: l. A grand piano having an inwardlyiprojecting reinforcingrib, a skeleton frame secured to and supported by said rib, andsecuring'meanscon necting said skeleton frame and rim to holdsoundin'g'board'and an iron frame.

2.,A grand p ano comprising acase rim having an 7 inwardly. pro ectingreinforcing 'rib, askeleton frame smaller-than the interior of the'rim,spaced therefromfthroughout its perimeter and secured to and.supportedby said ribtogether with spacingand securing means between theskeleton frame and rim to hold, the same in fixed spaced relation." J 8.A grand piano comprising a caseirim,

ya skeleton frame 'jsmaller than the interior comprising a case V a thesame in'fixed relationtogetherwith a of the rim and spaced therefromthroughout its perimeter, securing'devices holding, the skeleton frameand rim in fixed spaced relation, a sounding boardand an iron framesupported by the skeleton frame.

4. A grand piano comprising a case rim, a skeleton frame within andspaced from said rim, securingmeans holding said skeleton frame and rimin fixed spaced relation, a sounding board and musical instrumentalitiessupported above said skeleton frame.

5. A grand piano comprising a case rim having an inwardly projectingframe'supporting ledge, a skeleton frame supported by said ledge and aniron frame supported by said skeleton frame.

I 6. A grand piano comprising a case rim having a frame supportprojecting inwardly at its lower edge, a skeleton frame supported by andsecured thereto and an iron frame supported by said skeleton frame.

7. As an'article of manufacture, acase rim for a grand piano and akey-bed secured to and connecting the ends of the rim.

to hold the same in definite spaced relation.

8; As an article ofmanufacture, a caserim for a grand piano having areinforcing skeleton frame.

rib along its lower edge projecting inwardly A and formed to provide asupport for the 9. As an article of manufacture,'a caserim for a grandpiano having a reinforcing, stiffening rib pro ecting inwardly and akeybed secured o and connecting the ends of the 'rim.

10. The improvement in the art of constructing grand pianos whichcomprises constructing and assembling the skeleton frame, sounding-boardand musical instrumentalities, constructing and finishing separately thecase-rim having a reinforcing rib which affords support for the skeletonframe; assembling the skeleton frame and rim, and

securing the skeleton frame to the reinforcing rib.

11. The improvement in the art of constructing grand pianos whichcomprises constructing and assembling the skeleton frame,

sounding-board and musical instrumentalistructing and assembling theskeleton frame,

sounding-board and musical instrumentalities, constructing and finishingseparately the case-rim, supporting the case-rim and skeleton frame inspaced relation, and securing the skeleton frame to the rim.

13. The improvement in the art of constructing grand pianos whichcomprises constructing and assembling the skeleton frame, sounding-boardand musical instrumentalities, constructing and finishing separately thecase-rim.with the key bed secured thereto, assembling the skeleton frameand rim, and securing the skeleton frame to the rim.

1%. The improvement in the art of constructing grand pianos whichcomprises constructing and assembling the skeleton frame, sounding-boardand musical instrumentalities, constructing and finishing separately thecase-rim, the skeleton frame being substantially smaller than the rimand spaced therefrom throughout its periphery, inserting spacing-wedgesbetween the skeleton frame and rim, and securing the rim permanently tothe skeleton frame.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this18th day of October, 1920.

BRADFORD C. EDMANDS.

